ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce has termed the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2015-18 as jugglery of words with observation that it has failed to produce desired results in many fields, including exports.
The monetary policy, tariff and tax regime, and industrial and investment policies, were one of the key points of the STPF 2015-18. The STPF 2015-18 aimed to enhance annual exports to $35 billion by June 2018 along with transition from ‘factor-driven’ economy to efficiency-driven and innovation-driven economy and increase share in regional trade.
In this regard, the main focus had to be on four chosen markets including Iran, China, Afghanistan and European Union with key products including basmati rice, horticulture, meat and meat products, jewellery and others. Therefore the committee proposed to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to devise a new trade policy with rational national export targets.
Committee met here with Chairman Shibli Faraz in the chair to supervise the implementation status of the recommendations of the committee by the MoC and attached departments. Secretary Commerce Younas Dhaga informed the committee that out of total 63 some 52 recommendations of the committee had been implemented while implementation of remaining 11 recommendations was in progress
Dhaga told the committee about the different activities carried out by TDAP for the promotion of trade and exports in Balochisstan. But, Senators Rubina Khalid, Naseema Ihsan and other members of the committee strongly criticized Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for making least efforts for the promotion of trade and exports related activities in Balochistan. In previous meeting, chairman committee had proposed closures of TDAP.
Commerce Secretary also told the committee that free trade agreements with China and Indonesia were being revised to grab more opportunities for Pakistani exporters in both the markets. In this regard, talks had been held with China in Beijing for seeking more relaxations in non-tariff barriers, avoidance of double taxations and other incentives for Pakistani exporters.
Regarding a question about enhancement of exports from locally produced palms from Balochistan, Dhaga said that as per committee’s recommendations, value of palms export had increased to $ 150 million from $ 140 million, registering an increase of $10million.
In this connection, he said that ministry had taken countrywide measures to enhance palms exports; Palms Export Development Plant had been set up in Khairpur Sindh while Palms Export Processing Plant would be established soon. Committee proposed establishment of plant for the promotion of Palms in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.
